| Members Present: Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox, Chair Rep. Mark A. Strong, Vice Chair Rep. Melissa G. Ballard Rep. Matthew H. Gwynn Rep. Katy Hall Rep. Sandra Hollins Rep. Trevor Lee Rep. Lisa Shepherd | Rep. Andrew Stoddard Rep. Stephen L. Whyte Members Absent: Rep. Val L. Peterson Staff Present: Lacey Johnson, Policy Analyst An Bradshaw, Committee Secretary |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Strong called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m. |
| MOTION:Rep. Whyte moved to approve the minutes for the February 17, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-4. | |||
| Yeas - 7 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Rep. M. Gwynn Rep. K. Hall Rep. T. Lee Rep. L. Shepherd Rep. A. Stoddard Rep. M. Strong Rep. S. Whyte | Rep. M. Ballard Rep. S. Hollins Rep. V. Peterson Rep. R. Wilcox |
| 1.H.B. 495 Capital Felony Case Amendments(Pierucci, C.) |
| HB495 Handout |
| Rep. Candice Pierucci presented the bill with the assistance of William Hains, Assistant Solicitor General, Criminal Appeals Division, Office of the Attorney General (OAG). |
| Chair Wilcox assumed the chair. |
| Mark Moffat, Utah Defense Lawyers Association, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| Richard Mauro, Executive Director, Salt Lake Legal Defender Association (SLLDA), spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| Scott Burns, Piute County Attorney and Executive Director, Utah Sheriffs Association, spoke in support of the bill. |
| Erin Bigler, Assistant Director of Forensic Social Work, SLLDA, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| Carl Hollan, Executive Director, Statewide Association of Prosecutors and Public Attorneys (SWAP), spoke in support of the bill. |
| Andrew Riggle, Policy Advocate, Disability Law Center, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| Eric Zuckerman, Assistant Federal Public Defender, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| MOTION:Rep. Hall moved to replace HB0495 with HB0495S01.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. M. Ballard Rep. K. Hall Rep. S. Hollins Rep. T. Lee Rep. L. Shepherd Rep. M. Strong Rep. S. Whyte Rep. R. Wilcox | Rep. M. Gwynn Rep. V. Peterson Rep. A. Stoddard |
| MOTION:Rep. Shepherd moved to pass HB0495S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-2-1. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 2 | Abs- 1 | |
| Rep. M. Ballard Rep. M. Gwynn Rep. K. Hall Rep. T. Lee Rep. L. Shepherd Rep. M. Strong Rep. S. Whyte Rep. R. Wilcox | Rep. S. Hollins Rep. A. Stoddard | Rep. V. Peterson |
| 2.H.B. 539 Criminal Justice Modifications(MacPherson, M.) |
| Rep. MacPherson presented the bill with the assistance of William Hains and Ryan Robinson, Policy Director, SWAP. |
| Marlesse Jones, Director, Domestic Violence Coalition, spoke in support of the bill. |
| Brett Robinson, Senior Policy Advisor, Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, spoke in support of the bill. |
| Erin Jemison, Director of Public Policy, Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, spoke in support of the bill. |
| Steve Burton, Director, Utah Defense Attorney Association, spoke to the bill. |
| MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to replace HB0539 with HB0539S02.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 2 | |
| Rep. M. Ballard Rep. M. Gwynn Rep. K. Hall Rep. S. Hollins Rep. L. Shepherd Rep. A. Stoddard Rep. M. Strong Rep. S. Whyte Rep. R. Wilcox | Rep. T. Lee Rep. V. Peterson |
| MOTION:Rep. Stoddard moved to pass HB0539S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-2. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 2 | |
| Rep. M. Ballard Rep. M. Gwynn Rep. K. Hall Rep. S. Hollins Rep. L. Shepherd Rep. A. Stoddard Rep. M. Strong Rep. S. Whyte Rep. R. Wilcox | Rep. T. Lee Rep. V. Peterson |
| Vice Chair Strong resumed the chair. |
| 3.1st Sub. H.B. 402 EMS Controlled Substance Licensing Amendments(Wilcox, R.) |
| Rep. Wilcox presented the bill with the assistance of Rob Ayers, Division Chief, Emergency Medical Services, Unified Fire Authority. |
| Clint Smith, Draper City Fire Chief and representing the Utah State Fire Chiefs Association, spoke in support of the bill. |
| MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to pass HB0402S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. M. Ballard Rep. M. Gwynn Rep. K. Hall Rep. S. Hollins Rep. L. Shepherd Rep. A. Stoddard Rep. M. Strong Rep. R. Wilcox | Rep. T. Lee Rep. V. Peterson Rep. S. Whyte |
| Chair Wilcox assumed the chair. |
| MOTION:Rep. Shepherd moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. M. Ballard Rep. M. Gwynn Rep. K. Hall Rep. S. Hollins Rep. L. Shepherd Rep. A. Stoddard Rep. M. Strong Rep. R. Wilcox | Rep. T. Lee Rep. V. Peterson Rep. S. Whyte |
| Chair Wilcox adjourned the meeting at 9:55 a.m. |